we're looking at a piece of property on the nash county gis site, and they'll map soil types for you but the legend isn't very helpful in explaining what the different types are. it only says things like GuB, GrC, etc and i'm having a hard time finding an explanation for these codes w/ google. can anybody help me out?

Go to the natural resources library and find the soil survey for Nash County. Its a book of soil maps for the whole county. They're normally very old. The one I use at work for Wake County is from the 70's. It'll have detailed descriptions of each soil type, including what types of land use they are appropriate for.

If you are looking to buy a chunk of land Im going to give you some really good free advice. Stop what you are doing til you get it mapped by a Liscensed Soil Scientist or some one from the health department if its a single lot or if you only need one house site.

[standard spill given to everyone about soil] Nash County has three or four soil systems coming together. Part of it is coastal plain, part of it is acid crystaline like the red stuff here in raleigh, some of it is slate belt similar to what is around chapel hill. I have found areas that are shallow to rock, clay that is expansive, and high water tables. It is a very complex place from a soil standpoint. generally you only find one or two of these limiting factors at a time.

it is also important to consider that the map you are using was made for what you are using it for but does not have the resolution you need, the lines can be substantially off since it was drawn with a pencil on an air photo, symbols can be transposed. Some soil surveys are pretty close, Person county was done really well, I have seen clients get burned bad by buying based on the Johnston county soil survey. Also, all soils have a range of characteristics, GeB( assuming its Georgeville) can be deep red clay from 40 to 60 inches, GoA ( assuming its Goldsboro) can have a seasonal high watertable from 18 to 30 inches, 30 is great for regular cheap septic systems, if its at 18 you are looking at a much more expensive/complicated system. and if its actually Rains series that has been mapped as goldsboro, you are SOL.

I wish every potential landowner did this. Usually, we see folks do this after the fact, after they've bought land to either a) develop or b)use for their own homesite...and then find that they are pretty much screwed when their plans go down the drain.

My father is a licensed soil scientist in both NC and VA, and I have worked for him for at least 7 years doing soils mapping and assisting in subdivision planning. You really do need to get a professional opinion if you're in the market to buy land for one or more homesites.

We cover Wake, Johnston, Granville, Franklin, Wilson, Vance, Warren, Nash, Chatham, Wayne, Harnett, Durham, and Person Counties. I'm sure I've left a county or so out, but those are the ones that I've worked in.